Housing:
Gouldian Finches
have a great need for movement. A cage with a good height as well as
horizontal space is important. A minimum of 24" (60 cm) in height
(necessary because they fly up when the first take off) and at least 28"
(70 cm) long. Gouldians must to be kept in a heated area as they cannot
tolerate cold, any dampness or drafts. Always keep the bird area above
55° F, thought they do best if the temperature is kept at 77° F or
warmer. Place the cage where it is well ventilated and against a wall at
eye level. It should have good light but be away from doors and windows
where direct exposure to sunlight can make it overly warm.
Provide two or
three good softwood perches about 3/8" to 3/4" in diameter. Tree
branches of a similar size also make good perches and will help to wear
the claws down naturally. Provide separate dishes for food, water,
treats, and grit. Place paper on the cage bottom that can be sprinkled
with grit, or use a grit paper.
Gouldian Finches also do very well in aviaries or bird rooms. In an
outdoor aviary they need protection from wind and rain, a covered flight
is best. The screening should be 3/8" square mesh. Dishes for food,
water, grit and bathing water must be included along with perches and a
wide variety of nests. Gouldian Finches may roost in nest boxes even
when they are not breeding. Plants that are
not poisonous, such as fruit trees, privet, forsythia, and honeysuckle
bushes will make the space more enjoyable for the finches.
Maintenance:
Although finches
require very little time, a clean environment as well as fresh food and
water daily is a must to prevent disease and illness. The basic cage
care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Every two to
three days change the paper on the bottom of the cage and sprinkle it
with about 1/8" of fresh grit. Weekly wash and dry the entire cage,
including the perches.
Social
Behaviours:
Gouldian Finches
are social and live in large groups all year long in the wild. They are
friendly with other finches and do well when kept in groups. If you wish
to mix bird types, they do very well in aviaries with Zebra Finches and
Society Finches.
Handling/Training:
Finches are simply
enjoyed for their antics and play rather than training. When you need to
handle your finch to examine it or clip it's nails, place your palm on
it's back and wrap your fingers around the bird with your thumb and
forefinger on either side of it's head.
Activities:
Gouldian Finches
are active and very energetic breeders. They must be kept active to
remain healthy.
Breeding/Reproduction:
Gouldian Finches
breed readily both in colonies and as a pair in a cage. Provide them
with either open or covered nests. Nest boxes, larger than those used
for Zebra or Society Finches, should be about 6"x 6"x 6" (15 x 15 x 15
cm) and mounted as high as possible. Both birds will build the nest and
they will need nesting materials such as soft hay, sisal, and coconut
fibre. Incandescent lighting tends to produce mostly males, while
full-spectrum lighting helps produce a more equal number of males to
females.
Provide soaked
seed, egg foods and spray millet when breeding. Gouldian Finches need
more protein than other finches to stay healthy and it is especially
important when the female is laying eggs.
Females are prone
to egg binding. This is thought to be caused by breeding too young,
temperatures too low, or not in good shape. Some pairs will often keep
breeding to exhaustion. They must be prevented from constant breeding in
order to keep them healthy.
The female will lay
a clutch of 4 to 8 eggs and they will hatch in 14 to 15 days. The young
leave the nest about 18 to 21 days after they hatch and in 6 to 8 weeks
will be on their own, after their first molt. Their adult plumage comes
in between 6 and 12 months.
Potential
Problems:
Gouldian Finches,
though not to hard to keep, are difficult to acclimate and will
sometimes die for no apparent reason. They will suffer from metabolic
problems if they don't get enough exercise, and can become ill after
even a very short exposure to cold. Finches are fairly hardy birds and
almost all illnesses can be traced to improper diet, dirty cages, and
drafts. A balanced diet, being kept warm, and plenty of exercise will
prevent most illnesses. Know your birds and watch for any changes as
indications of illness.
Some signs of
illness to be aware of are droppings that are not black and white,
feathers that are fluffed and the bird tucks it's head under it's wing,
lack of appetite, wheezing, and acting feeble and run down.
Some of the common
illnesses and injuries your finch could contract are broken wings or
legs, cuts and open wounds, overgrown beaks and nails, ingrown feathers,
feather picking, metabolic problems from lack of exercise, weight loss,
heat stroke, shock, concussion, egg binding, diarrhoea, mites, colds,
baldness, scaly legs, sore eyes, tumors, constipation, and diarrheal.
First you can try
and isolate the bird in a hospital cage where you cover all but the
front of the cage and add a light bulb or heating pad to keep the
interior of the cage at a constant temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove all perches and put food and water dishes on the floor. If you
don't see improvements within a few hours, take the bird to an avian
veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Availability:
Gouldian Finches
have been quite expensive due to a high demand and the fact that they
are captive bred. However, there are indications that there are now
larger quantities being bred and that prices are reducing. The
white-breasted and blue mutations are probably in the highest demand.
